'Due to supply shortage, prices of daily necessities are unbridled. Efforts are underway to control prices of daily necessities by increasing supply and Consumer Rights Directorate has been instructed to work vigorously.'

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin said this at the inauguration of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) potato sales program in a mobile truck at Karwan Bazar in the capital on Wednesday (November 20).

The Commerce Adviser said that prices of daily necessities in the market are not decreasing due to weakness in supply management. However, all kinds of measures are being taken to increase supply. Customs duties have been reduced on some products. This has reduced prices to some extent. For this, Consumer Rights has been instructed to work vigorously.

He also said that rice import has already started. Permission has been given to import about 20 crore eggs. We are working extensively on oil. We are working in coordination with all parties ahead of Ramadan.

The adviser further said, "To bring the increased price of potatoes in the market to a tolerable level, we have started selling potatoes through TCB at a fair price. The inflation of daily necessities in today's market is mainly supply-oriented. We are working day and night to improve the supply system. We are holding meetings with all stakeholders on this."

Sheikh Bashiruddin said, "Not only the Ministry of Commerce, but also the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Food, and Ministry of Commerce have taken initiatives in this regard. The advisers, including the Chief Adviser, are sensitive to this matter. Some products have started to get relief, and this time potatoes will also get relief. Besides, we have started working extensively on oil. We are working in a coordinated manner with everyone, keeping Ramadan in mind."

The inauguration ceremony of the mobile truck selling potatoes along with other TCB products by Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) was also attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Mr. Mohd. Selim Uddin, Proprietor of Messrs. Arash Enterprises Md. Sirajul Islam (Milon) and many others. At the end of the ceremony, potatoes along with other TCB products were sold at a price of Tk. 40 per kg.

The Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) has ordered the waiver of the tuition fee of university-level students injured in the mass uprising of students and the public in July-August 2024.

As a result of this directive, those injured in the movement in government and private universities will get their tuition fee waiver. However, documentary evidence of the injury will have to be provided.

On Tuesday (November 20), a UGC notification said that through the notification dated October 29 of the Secondary and Higher Education Directorate, Ministry of Education, the government has decided to waive the tuition fee of secondary to university-level students (all government-private schools, colleges, madrasas, technical and universities) injured in the mass uprising of students and the public in July-August 2024. In this situation, instructions have been given to take further necessary measures as per the instructions of this notification.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Education issued a notification on October 29 stating that the interim government has decided to waive the tuition fees of students injured in the anti-discrimination student uprising in July-August. These students will receive this benefit from the class they are currently in until their university life.

It states that injured students will apply to the head of their respective educational institutions with medical prescriptions. The educational institution authorities will immediately verify the applications and take steps to waive the tuition fees of the students.

Eight officials, including a former police chief and former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), have been arrested in a case filed on charges of crimes against humanity in the July-August genocide.

On Wednesday (November 20), a three-member tribunal headed by International Crimes Tribunal Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder is hearing their case.

Eight officials were earlier produced before the tribunal in a prison van.

Those who have been produced before the tribunal are former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former NTMC director general Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan, former Dhaka district police superintendent Md. Abdullah Al Kafi, former DMP DC Md. Jasim Uddin Mollah, former Dhaka additional superintendent (Savar Circle) Md. Shahidur Islam, former OC of Jatrabari Police Station Abul Hasan, former OC of Gulshan Police Station Mazharul Haque and former inspector of Dhaka North DB Md. Arafat Hossain.

Earlier on October 27, the three-member tribunal led by the chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal, Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, approved the prosecution's application and ordered the production of these 8 officers.

Arrest warrants were issued against 17 former police officers in a case of crimes against humanity and ordered them to appear before the International Crimes Tribunal. Those who are arrested will be brought to the tribunal.

On October 17, the judicial proceedings of the International Crimes Tribunal began with the issuance of arrest warrants against 46 people, including Sheikh Hasina, on charges of crimes against humanity.

The newly appointed six-member search committee to form the Election Commission (EC) will pay a courtesy call on President Md. Shahabuddin on Wednesday (November 20) evening.

The President's Press Secretary Md. Joynal Abedin said that the members of the newly appointed search committee will meet the President at 6:15 pm today.

A search committee has been formed comprising the following persons to recommend the names of qualified persons as per the law for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners as per Section 3 of the 'Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2022'.

The search committee will be chaired by Justice Zubair Rahman Chowdhury, Judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

The other members of the search committee for the EC restructuring are Justice AKM Asaduzzaman, Judge of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, Auditor General and Comptroller of Bangladesh, Chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, and former Professor of the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University, Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar and former Chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission Professor Dr. Jinnatun Nesa Tahmida Begum.

A notification signed by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid regarding the search committee was published on October 31, 2024.

The notification states that the search committee will carry out its duties and procedures in accordance with the 'Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commission Appointment Act 2022'.

In that case, the Cabinet Division will provide necessary secretarial support to the search committee in carrying out its work.